Promising pickup: Danny Woodhead

New England Patriots running back Danny Woodhead celebrates his touchdown during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
— AP

New England Patriots running back Danny Woodhead celebrates his touchdown during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
/ AP

Playing for the Patriots last year, running back Danny Woodhead had as many rushing touchdowns (4) as the entire Chargers offense. Five-foot-7 1/2 and 195 pounds, he has very good lateral quickness, which I think, for an NFL back, is more important than raw power. He also can motor upfield in a hurry, although he may not be as fast as his 4.38 time in the 40 coming out of Chadron State five years ago. As a receiver, Woodhead is shifty, brave and very polished. He scraps in pass protection, but sometimes is overrun by linemen.

The Chargers' signing of Woodhead looks promising. Woodhead should give Mike McCoy a versatile chess piece, while providing support to both Philip Rivers and Ryan Mathews. As a bonus, Woodhead is well-schooled in the no-huddle attack, a tool that McCoy prefers more than Norv Turner did. He will be 29, still in the peak range, going into the two-year deal's final season.

The Patriots deserve credit, too. After they claimed Woodhead off waivers from the Jets four years ago, he evolved into a deft situational back. The Patriots have younger, cheaper players in place to replace Woodhead. They may see some erosion. He averaged a career-low 4.0 yards per carry last year. But despite losing playing time to younger teammates, Woodhead had his second-highest total of yards from scrimmage (747) last year. He also had 40 catches and a career-high three TD receptions.